Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 47

Engaged

The months have gone by really quick. Aiden has been better since Zaid left, and now he's been back to his normal upbeat self.

He's taken up his game.

Both in basketball and in bed.

My legs are sore as I walk outside. The air is cold, freezing my nose, but I don't complain. It's better than the unbearable heat. Aiden's had an amazing first half of basketball season and next year they're hoping to go to the state tournament.

I wrap my arms around myself to keep in some of the warmth.

Winter break is next week, and all I can think about is Zaid.

It makes me feel guilty. That I'm excited that he'll be in town. I've never had a pleasant experience with him, and I should hate him, but just the thought of maybe seeing him again...

I shudder.

Sometimes I get this gut feeling that he's watching me, but when I turn to face the

corner

of whatever room I'm in, he's never there. Of course he's not.

I hate myself for missing his charms, even though they annoyed me, even though

he tested every inch of my sanity when he was here.

I can't explain the way his face haunts my dreams.

That I sometimes think about him, even when it is Aiden deep inside me.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I shouldn't feel this way. I'm with

Aiden.

Zaid is his brother, and whatever chemistry there was between us before he left is nothing.

But I still haven't gotten Aiden to talk about the night Zaid got arrested. Every time

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bring it up, he shuts down, changes the subject, or tells me it doesn't matter anymore.

in my pocket, pulling

Come over

my fingers almost numb as I type back a message that I'm on my way. He never texts me like that and I know immediately that something is off. I stuff my phone back in my coat pocket and

for me to get

I annoyingly question him, twisting as he harshly pulls the

eyes are wide as he shakes his head and I frown at him, feeling strange. He looks upset, running a hand through his hair before looking at

says, his

frown, stepping further inside. "Sorry for what? What's

sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I

the hallways. Confusion unfurls inside me and

Didn't know what?"

living room, his shoulders tense. "My

is engaged.

my stomach to twist the way it

trying to rein in the panic

Something else is wrong,

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him, into the living room, and my

standing in the middle of the

next to her

in my throat as I try to make sense of what

her finger, an enormous rock glinting beneath

movement not reaches his eyes and he

me as

from across the room.

Aiden behind me, his hand at my lower back, as if

filling

cracks, and I clear

that terrible smile still on

the holidays, so you weren't caught

that," I mutter, still

pale, his jaw

it in his eyes, the way he

takes a step toward me, her hands outstretched. "Alina, sweetheart, isn't

wonderful news?"

"Wonderful news?" I scoff.

Jake flinches.

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frowns at me. "Why are you